TCM Help for Cancer Patients
November 2008
Articles
by Mary Xiumei Wu
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a distinct and comprehensive medical paradigm that is composed of fundamental theory, unique diagnostic methods and a variety of treatment modalities including herbal medicine, acupuncture, tuina massage and taiji qigong. With thousands of years of history, repeated clinical tests and increased modern scientific research, TCM has been proven effective for a wide range of conditions and has been used by over a quarter of the world’s population. The benefits of TCM include health promotion, disease prevention, and treatments. TCM may be used alone, or in combination with allopathic medicine. TCM is not only used for minor conditions, but also for critical and serious illnesses such as cancer.
The Aetiology and Pathogenesis of Cancer
According to TCM, the pathogenesis of cancer is the deficiency of vital qi and accumulation of toxins. Overgrowth of cancer cells and formation of masses or tumours are due to the weakness of body energy and its inability to maintain the smooth flow of qi and blood, the normal metabolism of fluids, and balance of yin and yang. This causes obstruction of qi and stasis of blood, retention of phlegm and dampness, and accumulation of heat toxins.
The main causes of these pathological changes include invasion of wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, and fire from the outside, and emotional disturbances such as excessive joy, anger, sadness, grief, over-thinking and fear from inside. Improper diet such as over consumption of certain foods (i.e. cold foods, spicy foods, alcohol), and irregular diet (over eating, extreme dietary restriction, emotional disturbance during eating) could damage the spleen and stomach. The main function of the spleen and stomach is to digest and transport food and water, and to transform food and water into qi and blood. Therefore, if qi and blood become deficient, the accumulation of phlegm dampness will occur as a result of weakened spleen and stomach. Long term and repeated emotional disturbances or stress can cause serious qi stagnation, which may affect blood circulation and cause blood stasis. Long term qi stagnation may also turn into heat toxins.
When pathogenic factors invade the body, it is the vital qi which will protect the body by fighting and eliminating the pathogens. As a result, vital qi becomes weakened. According to western medicine, one cause of cancer is a weakened immune system which fails to detect and destroy cancerous cells in the early stages. This theory agrees with the weakened vital qi theory in TCM: “If the vital qi is strong inside, evils will not be able to invade; if evils accumulate, the vital qi must be weak.”
The Prevention and Treatment of Cancer
The most important internal factor of disease is the weakness of vital qi. Therefore, to prevent cancer, one must maintain strong vital qi. According to the Yellow Emperor’s Internal Medicine, for health maintenance and for disease prevention, one should “obey the law of yin and yang, be harmonized with nature.” To protect the body from been attacked by exogenous pathogenic factors, one should “tonify yang in the spring and summer, and tonify yin in the fall and winter; have proper diet; maintain regular life style; avoid over strain.” In this way, one could “avoid the invasion of deficient evils and thief wind according to the seasons, remain peaceful and calm mind, reserve the true qi; keep the essence and spirit inside. In this way, how can disease happen to you?”
TCM focuses on treating the root cause of the disease according to the individual patient. Cancer is caused by deficiency of vital qi and excess of pathogens. Therefore, the principle treatment is to strengthen vital qi and eliminate pathogenic factors. However, each patient may have different symptoms which indicate various levels and kinds of deficiencies and excesses. Therefore, TCM treatment is individualized and focused on a specific condition during a specific period of the disease.
Common Patterns of Cancer
Following are some common and simple patterns present in cancer patients. However, two or more patterns may be present in one patient because of the complexity of cases and the chronic nature of the illnesses. The effectiveness and safety of TCM treatments depend on accurate diagnosis and differentiation of the patterns. It is important to find a qualified TCM practitioner who has adequate knowledge and skills, with many years of TCM clinical experience.
Liver qi stagnation: This pattern usually happens in the early stages of breast cancer, liver cancer and stomach cancer. The main symptoms and signs are depression, chest oppression and tightness, breasts or hypochondriac pain and distension, sighing, bitter taste, and wiry pulse. All symptoms and signs get worse with stress or emotional disturbances due to the obstruction of qi flow in the liver and related meridians. The treatment principle is to comfort the liver to relieve depression, sooth qi and remove obstruction.
Spleen deficiency with phlegm damp accumulation: Patients with this pattern usually feel very weak and tired, with no desire to eat, abdominal fullness, bloating and distension, loose stool or diarrhea, edema of the lower legs, water retention in the abdominal cavity or jaundice. A pale, swollen tongue and deep, weak pulse are common. Treatment principle is to tonify the spleen, resolve dampness phlegm, promote digestion and eliminate water retention.
Qi stagnation and blood stasis: This pattern is present in almost all cancer patients. In addition to the tumours and masses with pains, distension and fullness, the pain is usually sharp and pricking with fixed locations and worse at night; dark facial complexion; thin body with rough and scaly skin; obstructed bowel movement, purple dark tongue with black or dark spots; thin and wiry pulse, or choppy pulse. All the symptoms and signs are caused by the stagnation of qi flow and the stasis of blood. To treat this condition, the doctor has to promote qi flow, remove qi stagnation, invigorate blood and remove blood stasis.
Accumulation of heat toxins: Patients with this pattern have accumulation of heat toxins because the body shows extreme heat inside and out. The main symptoms and signs include heat and feverish sensation with or without high body temperature, dry mouth and throat, thirst with preference for cold drinks, constipation with dry stool, dark and yellow urination, red tongue with yellow and dry coating, rapid and wiry pulse. The treatment principle is to clean heat and resolve toxins.
Yin deficiency with heat: Most patients manifest this pattern during chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Symptoms include feeling hot and burning with or without pain all over the body, as if the body was been toasted in an oven; heat comes out of the palms and soles, the bones feel like if they were steamed from the inside; constipation; dark yellow and scanty urine. The tongue is red and dry with very little or no coating. The tongue body may be cracked. The pulse is deep, thin and rapid. To treat this type of cancer patient, the doctor has to replenish yin and clean heat toxin to cool the body down.
Yang deficiency: Some cancer patients in the last stages may have the symptoms of feeling cold, aversion to cold, cold limbs, extreme tiredness and exhaustion, loose stool, edema of the lower limbs, pale and swollen tongue with white coating, deep weak and slow pulse. These symptoms and signs are caused by yang deficiency which fails to warm the body and maintain normal functional activities of the internal organs. The treatment is to warm yang and eliminate coldness.
TCM Modalities
Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a variety of treatment modalities including Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, tuina massage, and taiji-qigong.
Chinese herbal medicine: Using the natural properties of herbs and other natural substances, TCM doctors can strengthen the deficient vital qi, eliminate the excesses of pathogenic factors, balance yin and yang, soothe the meridians, and regulate functional activities of internal organs to restore health. Herbs that are cooling in nature can clean heat and reduce toxins. Herbs that are hot in nature can warm the body, tonify yang and scatter coldness. Herbs that are moistening can tonify yin, replenish fluid, and clear deficient heat. Herbs that are moving and soothing can promote qi flow and remove obstruction. Herbs that are drying can dry the dampness and resolve phlegm. Herbs that move the blood promote blood circulation and are used to treat blood stasis. Qi tonics are used to strengthen qi and to treat qi deficiency.
Prescribing Chinese herbal medicine is an art. Chinese herbs are hardly ever used as a single ingredient for any patient. They are combined in such a way that they enhance each other’s effect, and reduce each other’s side effects. The combinations of herbs aim to achieve the maximum benefits while minimizing the disturbance to the body. Chinese herbs are generally safe and effective if prescribed by qualified practitioners with correct diagnosis of the disease and differentiation of the patterns. The toxicity of Chinese herbs is minimal, and the possibilities of interacting with western medication are usually insignificant. However, TCM herbs may cause serious adverse reactions if used without proper diagnosis, or are recommended by incompetent practitioners.
Acupuncture: Acupuncture is the insertion of fine needles into the body to regulate the body energy and to restore health based on the theory of TCM. Acupuncturists select acupoints and apply certain manipulations to the needles to promote health, and to prevent and treat diseases. The fundamentals of TCM acupuncture are to tonify deficiency, reduce excess, clear heat and warm cold. Although best known for pain relief, acupuncture has much wider applications and effects. It is well proved that acupuncture can calm the mind, reduce anxiety, improve energy, reduce nausea and vomiting, hot flashes and heat sensation caused by chemotherapy. Acupuncture also can strengthen the immune system and help with recovery after surgery.
Taiji Qigong Exercise: Taiji Qigong is an ancient form of Chinese martial art that is currently practised by millions of people worldwide. It is a gentle, slow movement exercise that incorporates deep, rhythmic breathing. Qigong therapy is the emission of qi by the practitioners to help patients relax the mind and body, strengthen energy to maintain health, and to prevent and treat diseases.
Effectiveness of TCM for Cancer
With thousand years of history, repeated clinical tests, millions of successful cases, and increased modern research, it is reasonable and acceptable to conclude that TCM may be effective and helpful for cancer patients in many ways. However, it has to be noted that the results and effectiveness of TCM for cancer patients also depend on the individual patient’s response to the treatment. The reactions and responses may vary largely from patient to patient. Generally speaking, TCM helps patients in one way or the other.
Benefits the mind and spirit: Mental and physical relaxation for most patients receiving acupuncture, tuina and qigong treatments; reduced anxiety, irritability and insomnia; up lift in spirit, fights depression; strengthening of willpower to fight cancer for better and longer life:
Improvement of symptoms: Reduce chronic and acute pain, distension, fullness and bloating; improve energy and reduce fatigue; increase appetite, improve digestion, absorption, and bowel movements; increase body weight or slow down weight loss.
Reduces side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy: Reduce nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy; Reduce hot flashes, burning sensation and sweats; stimulate the growth of hair and improve its quality; reduce leucopenia when combined with chemotherapy
Overcome multi-drug resistance
Improved immune function
Increase effectiveness of chemotherapy
Strengthen and prepare the body for surgery and help to recover after surgery
Some patients have experienced inhibition and slowdown of tumour growth, even reduction in the size of tumours
Improve overall wellbeing and quality of life and prolong survival time
TCM and Western Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine is deeply rooted in ancient philosophy. The effectiveness of TCM has been proved through billions of individual cases and some clinical trials. Western diagnosis is based on technical knowledge and lab tests; its treatment is focused on destroying or removing tumour cells by surgery, drugs or radiation therapy. Both Eastern and Western medical models have advantages and disadvantages. Many cases have demonstrated that the combination of TCM with western medicine produces best results. TCM may be used alone for prevention and during remission to strengthen the body and balance the energy. TCM also works together with chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery to enhance effectiveness and reduce side-effects of western treatments. TCM helps the body to recover from the damage caused by invasive treatments and to alleviate symptoms.
It is my sincere hope that TCM be accepted and used by people all over the world so that many people can benefit from this ancient natural and effective medical paradigm.
Mary X. Wu received her medical degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine in China and has been practising and teaching TCM in China and in Canada since 1975. She is president of the Toronto School of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Mary has been appointed to many government committees as TCM expert in clinical practice and education. She specializes her clinical practice with female disorders including infertility, menopause, and cancer. For appointment, please call (416) 782-9682 or visit www.tstcm.com for more information.
Catch Mary Wu at Whole Life Expo, where she will lecture on Traditional Chinese Medicine for Cancer Patients on Sunday, November 16.
by Mary Xiumei WuTraditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a distinct and comprehensive medical paradigm that is composed of fundamental theory, unique diagnostic methods and a variety of treatment modalities including herbal medicine, acupuncture, tuina massage and taiji qigong. With thousands of years of history, repeated clinical tests and increased modern scientific research, TCM has been proven effective for a wide range of conditions and has been used by over a quarter of the world’s population. The benefits of TCM include health promotion, disease prevention, and treatments. TCM may be used alone, or in combination with allopathic medicine. TCM is not only used for minor conditions, but also for critical and serious illnesses such as cancer.
The Aetiology and Pathogenesis of Cancer
According to TCM, the pathogenesis of cancer is the deficiency of vital qi and accumulation of toxins. Overgrowth of cancer cells and formation of masses or tumours are due to the weakness of body energy and its inability to maintain the smooth flow of qi and blood, the normal metabolism of fluids, and balance of yin and yang. This causes obstruction of qi and stasis of blood, retention of phlegm and dampness, and accumulation of heat toxins.
The main causes of these pathological changes include invasion of wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, and fire from the outside, and emotional disturbances such as excessive joy, anger, sadness, grief, over-thinking and fear from inside. Improper diet such as over consumption of certain foods (i.e. cold foods, spicy foods, alcohol), and irregular diet (over eating, extreme dietary restriction, emotional disturbance during eating) could damage the spleen and stomach. The main function of the spleen and stomach is to digest and transport food and water, and to transform food and water into qi and blood. Therefore, if qi and blood become deficient, the accumulation of phlegm dampness will occur as a result of weakened spleen and stomach. Long term and repeated emotional disturbances or stress can cause serious qi stagnation, which may affect blood circulation and cause blood stasis. Long term qi stagnation may also turn into heat toxins.
When pathogenic factors invade the body, it is the vital qi which will protect the body by fighting and eliminating the pathogens. As a result, vital qi becomes weakened. According to western medicine, one cause of cancer is a weakened immune system which fails to detect and destroy cancerous cells in the early stages. This theory agrees with the weakened vital qi theory in TCM: “If the vital qi is strong inside, evils will not be able to invade; if evils accumulate, the vital qi must be weak.”
The Prevention and Treatment of Cancer
The most important internal factor of disease is the weakness of vital qi. Therefore, to prevent cancer, one must maintain strong vital qi. According to the Yellow Emperor’s Internal Medicine, for health maintenance and for disease prevention, one should “obey the law of yin and yang, be harmonized with nature.” To protect the body from been attacked by exogenous pathogenic factors, one should “tonify yang in the spring and summer, and tonify yin in the fall and winter; have proper diet; maintain regular life style; avoid over strain.” In this way, one could “avoid the invasion of deficient evils and thief wind according to the seasons, remain peaceful and calm mind, reserve the true qi; keep the essence and spirit inside. In this way, how can disease happen to you?”
TCM focuses on treating the root cause of the disease according to the individual patient. Cancer is caused by deficiency of vital qi and excess of pathogens. Therefore, the principle treatment is to strengthen vital qi and eliminate pathogenic factors. However, each patient may have different symptoms which indicate various levels and kinds of deficiencies and excesses. Therefore, TCM treatment is individualized and focused on a specific condition during a specific period of the disease.
Common Patterns of Cancer
Following are some common and simple patterns present in cancer patients. However, two or more patterns may be present in one patient because of the complexity of cases and the chronic nature of the illnesses. The effectiveness and safety of TCM treatments depend on accurate diagnosis and differentiation of the patterns. It is important to find a qualified TCM practitioner who has adequate knowledge and skills, with many years of TCM clinical experience.
Liver qi stagnation: This pattern usually happens in the early stages of breast cancer, liver cancer and stomach cancer. The main symptoms and signs are depression, chest oppression and tightness, breasts or hypochondriac pain and distension, sighing, bitter taste, and wiry pulse. All symptoms and signs get worse with stress or emotional disturbances due to the obstruction of qi flow in the liver and related meridians. The treatment principle is to comfort the liver to relieve depression, sooth qi and remove obstruction.
Spleen deficiency with phlegm damp accumulation: Patients with this pattern usually feel very weak and tired, with no desire to eat, abdominal fullness, bloating and distension, loose stool or diarrhea, edema of the lower legs, water retention in the abdominal cavity or jaundice. A pale, swollen tongue and deep, weak pulse are common. Treatment principle is to tonify the spleen, resolve dampness phlegm, promote digestion and eliminate water retention.
Qi stagnation and blood stasis: This pattern is present in almost all cancer patients. In addition to the tumours and masses with pains, distension and fullness, the pain is usually sharp and pricking with fixed locations and worse at night; dark facial complexion; thin body with rough and scaly skin; obstructed bowel movement, purple dark tongue with black or dark spots; thin and wiry pulse, or choppy pulse. All the symptoms and signs are caused by the stagnation of qi flow and the stasis of blood. To treat this condition, the doctor has to promote qi flow, remove qi stagnation, invigorate blood and remove blood stasis.
Accumulation of heat toxins: Patients with this pattern have accumulation of heat toxins because the body shows extreme heat inside and out. The main symptoms and signs include heat and feverish sensation with or without high body temperature, dry mouth and throat, thirst with preference for cold drinks, constipation with dry stool, dark and yellow urination, red tongue with yellow and dry coating, rapid and wiry pulse. The treatment principle is to clean heat and resolve toxins.
Yin deficiency with heat: Most patients manifest this pattern during chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Symptoms include feeling hot and burning with or without pain all over the body, as if the body was been toasted in an oven; heat comes out of the palms and soles, the bones feel like if they were steamed from the inside; constipation; dark yellow and scanty urine. The tongue is red and dry with very little or no coating. The tongue body may be cracked. The pulse is deep, thin and rapid. To treat this type of cancer patient, the doctor has to replenish yin and clean heat toxin to cool the body down.
Yang deficiency: Some cancer patients in the last stages may have the symptoms of feeling cold, aversion to cold, cold limbs, extreme tiredness and exhaustion, loose stool, edema of the lower limbs, pale and swollen tongue with white coating, deep weak and slow pulse. These symptoms and signs are caused by yang deficiency which fails to warm the body and maintain normal functional activities of the internal organs. The treatment is to warm yang and eliminate coldness.
TCM Modalities
Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a variety of treatment modalities including Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, tuina massage, and taiji-qigong.
Chinese herbal medicine: Using the natural properties of herbs and other natural substances, TCM doctors can strengthen the deficient vital qi, eliminate the excesses of pathogenic factors, balance yin and yang, soothe the meridians, and regulate functional activities of internal organs to restore health. Herbs that are cooling in nature can clean heat and reduce toxins. Herbs that are hot in nature can warm the body, tonify yang and scatter coldness. Herbs that are moistening can tonify yin, replenish fluid, and clear deficient heat. Herbs that are moving and soothing can promote qi flow and remove obstruction. Herbs that are drying can dry the dampness and resolve phlegm. Herbs that move the blood promote blood circulation and are used to treat blood stasis. Qi tonics are used to strengthen qi and to treat qi deficiency.
Prescribing Chinese herbal medicine is an art. Chinese herbs are hardly ever used as a single ingredient for any patient. They are combined in such a way that they enhance each other’s effect, and reduce each other’s side effects. The combinations of herbs aim to achieve the maximum benefits while minimizing the disturbance to the body. Chinese herbs are generally safe and effective if prescribed by qualified practitioners with correct diagnosis of the disease and differentiation of the patterns. The toxicity of Chinese herbs is minimal, and the possibilities of interacting with western medication are usually insignificant. However, TCM herbs may cause serious adverse reactions if used without proper diagnosis, or are recommended by incompetent practitioners.
Acupuncture: Acupuncture is the insertion of fine needles into the body to regulate the body energy and to restore health based on the theory of TCM. Acupuncturists select acupoints and apply certain manipulations to the needles to promote health, and to prevent and treat diseases. The fundamentals of TCM acupuncture are to tonify deficiency, reduce excess, clear heat and warm cold. Although best known for pain relief, acupuncture has much wider applications and effects. It is well proved that acupuncture can calm the mind, reduce anxiety, improve energy, reduce nausea and vomiting, hot flashes and heat sensation caused by chemotherapy. Acupuncture also can strengthen the immune system and help with recovery after surgery.
Taiji Qigong Exercise: Taiji Qigong is an ancient form of Chinese martial art that is currently practised by millions of people worldwide. It is a gentle, slow movement exercise that incorporates deep, rhythmic breathing. Qigong therapy is the emission of qi by the practitioners to help patients relax the mind and body, strengthen energy to maintain health, and to prevent and treat diseases.
Effectiveness of TCM for Cancer
With thousand years of history, repeated clinical tests, millions of successful cases, and increased modern research, it is reasonable and acceptable to conclude that TCM may be effective and helpful for cancer patients in many ways. However, it has to be noted that the results and effectiveness of TCM for cancer patients also depend on the individual patient’s response to the treatment. The reactions and responses may vary largely from patient to patient. Generally speaking, TCM helps patients in one way or the other.
Benefits the mind and spirit: Mental and physical relaxation for most patients receiving acupuncture, tuina and qigong treatments; reduced anxiety, irritability and insomnia; up lift in spirit, fights depression; strengthening of willpower to fight cancer for better and longer life:
Improvement of symptoms: Reduce chronic and acute pain, distension, fullness and bloating; improve energy and reduce fatigue; increase appetite, improve digestion, absorption, and bowel movements; increase body weight or slow down weight loss.
Reduces side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy: Reduce nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy; Reduce hot flashes, burning sensation and sweats; stimulate the growth of hair and improve its quality; reduce leucopenia when combined with chemotherapy
Overcome multi-drug resistance
Improved immune function
Increase effectiveness of chemotherapy
Strengthen and prepare the body for surgery and help to recover after surgery
Some patients have experienced inhibition and slowdown of tumour growth, even reduction in the size of tumours
Improve overall wellbeing and quality of life and prolong survival time
TCM and Western Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine is deeply rooted in ancient philosophy. The effectiveness of TCM has been proved through billions of individual cases and some clinical trials. Western diagnosis is based on technical knowledge and lab tests; its treatment is focused on destroying or removing tumour cells by surgery, drugs or radiation therapy. Both Eastern and Western medical models have advantages and disadvantages. Many cases have demonstrated that the combination of TCM with western medicine produces best results. TCM may be used alone for prevention and during remission to strengthen the body and balance the energy. TCM also works together with chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery to enhance effectiveness and reduce side-effects of western treatments. TCM helps the body to recover from the damage caused by invasive treatments and to alleviate symptoms.
It is my sincere hope that TCM be accepted and used by people all over the world so that many people can benefit from this ancient natural and effective medical paradigm.
Mary X. Wu received her medical degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine in China and has been practising and teaching TCM in China and in Canada since 1975. She is president of the Toronto School of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Mary has been appointed to many government committees as TCM expert in clinical practice and education. She specializes her clinical practice with female disorders including infertility, menopause, and cancer. For appointment, please call (416) 782-9682 or visit www.tstcm.com for more information.
Catch Mary Wu at Whole Life Expo, where she will lecture on Traditional Chinese Medicine for Cancer Patients on Sunday, November 16.